College Republicans have nothing to say? Nothing? Nothing from local Republican bloggers? Bloggers who are also candidates? The same people who were 24/7 with glee over their 15 minutes of fame over a pseudo-scandal because Schweitzer told a joke?

I didn’t read much here about Govner BS and his bragging about interfering with the election, did I?

As in…nothing?

As someone who briefly quieted the crickets with an alternate view, I’ll reiterate. If it’s the law, I want it enforced and want Brad and Vicki and all the other election administrators to be prepared to deal with it, whether it’s same day registration or challenges to voter registrations.

I haven’t quite pushed past the overheated rhetoric or stopped laughing from the “Forward Montana, non partisan home grown” nonsense to figure out what the criteria might be either to have you as someone challenged, or the democratic party’s complaint about the challenges.

And…nothing wrong with your partisanship. But for me, it’s not a value in public service.

As I’ve said before, Iverson isn’t stupid. That’s why you haven’t seen his name attached to this voter suppression activity. He might weigh in later, after he sees which way the wind is blowing.

And Goof, I’ll comment on Schweitzer’s Philly speech. It wasn’t a very smart move. It pales in comparison to the GOP’s current registered voter challenge. Eaton and cronies are disenfranchising a lot of voters and pissing off a variety of people, including the press. Bad move.

There’s partisanship and then there’s partisanship, goof. I validly go after members of my own party when there are problems – gravel pits, growth issues, zoning, etc. I don’t see that over there on the right blogs. Nada.

As for not championing a Republican? What’s Bohlinger? But I guess there are judges in that matter – the Republican’s who don’t like the moderate line he walks – and Bohlinger’s opinion in the matter means nothing.

Apparently you have to swear some oath to be a Republican.

Does it involve blood, too?

Find me a Republican that is even occasionally critical of their own party or its member’s behavior, when it is fitting, and I’ll toot their horn.

As for Schweitzer’s joke – it was mentioned here – and even those critical of him agreed that what he said had no merit in the reality that the righty blogs tried to thrust upon it….

There’s a hell of a lot of difference between a tall-talking Governor joking to a room full of lawyers about running off Republicans trying to suppress votes on the Reservation and the head of the Montana Republican Party actually suppressing votes.

As for my vote – the Republican Party violated numerous laws when they challenged my registration. I count at least 3.

That is criminal. Failure to speak out against that is tantamount to approval.

Well, we will see about “violated laws”. If they’re found to have violated laws, I’m sure many will speak out against that.

I don’t think there was any tall tale at all, it was braggin. I’ve seen the abuse of power in action, and I believe him the first time.

Bohlinger walks NO line. What statewide republicans has he supported? What legislative races has he weighed in on in support of Republicans against democrats? Is he supporting Rehberg? Even Driscoll said he’d vote for Rehberg!

How does the challenge disenfranchise a voter if the voter is legit? That’s a serious question, not a rhetorical device. And is it worse that it’s “on the reservation” than it would be in Butte Silver Bow? That question might be a rhetorical device….

And Pete, on both counts, “bad move” is an understatement. Both are “no joke”.

So there’s a litmus test for being a Republican? And Bohlinger doesn’t pass?

Voter suppression, voter caging – when you challenge a voter and make it difficult for them to vote, it’s suppression. Requiring them to sign out a notarized affidavit – which some people will have to pay for that notary fee – is suppression. It’s becomes disenfranchisement when the voter doesn’t follow through – or worse, isn’t able to because of age or sickeness or handicap, etc.

This is a concerted effort on the GOP part to suppress votes – otherwise they’d be pulling this crap on every county in the whole state. Why’s Gallatin getting a walk on this? Tell me in a college town that there aren’t abnormalities in addresses when crossmatching registrations and USPS change-of-addresses?

Because that’s what they say are the basis of their challenges…although my challenge certainly doesn’t fit that bill.

Let’s be realistic – the only reason the McCain campaign picked Bohlinger was because they were totally clueless about Montana. They probably did some kind of research based on the question “Who is the highest ranking Republican elected official in the state of Montana?” and of course the answer is Bohlinger. But you’d have to actually be somewhat familiar with Montana politics to understand how the answer to that question might be deceptive.

@jhwygirl: Let me start by saying that to be fair, there isn’t much of any posting on the GrizGOP blog lately, we’re all too busy other than to C&P announcements about our events. My silence does not demonstrate my approval, only the lack of time to say or write anything about it.

Second, I was interviewed by the Missoulian (http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/mtregional/news08.txt) during the 45 minute photo-op “protest” that Matt put on. I didn’t talk about it with KECI because first of all, I wasn’t asked about it and secondly because I was representing the College Republicans in an interview as their Public Relations spokesperson.

Finally, I stand by what I told the Missoulian. I want there to be no question of anyone’s registrations status on Election Day, meaning I want to make sure that EVERY vote counts, regardless of which way it is cast.
Nothing could make me more satisfied if my candidacy brings out more people to vote and be active participants in their government. I would be elated if the voters of House District 93 elected me to represent them, but I would be equally elated in a high turnout to vote against me.

As far as what Eaton et al. did, it may have been a tactic, it may not have. I don’t know, I found out the same way everyone else did: From the Missoulian.

That being said, I expect the Secretary of State’s Office to investigate any possibility of criminal activity and that proper action is taken for infringement of our sacred election laws if any are found.

That’s amazing, Steve. Just like Sarah Palin, you’re a self-styled newcomer to politics, and yet you’re already a master at the politician’s bullshit non-answer. I live in HD 93 and I can tell you this: there’s no way in hell I want to be represented by someone who’s spending his college years learning how to use fear and intimidation to either suppress votes or convince people to vote against their own economic self-interest.

i am pretty sure that carol is an honorable person albeit a little misguided, so she just elected to stay out of the fray. the problem with that is we need to elect representatives who stand up for the ordinary citizens of montana when their rights are being trampled upon. carol did not speak up like her very few fellow republicans courageous enough to do so. does this make her a bad person? not necessarily. but these hard times call for courage and action. my vote is for Michele Reinhart. i know she will stand up for us when it counts.